Samsung Unveils Galaxy XR Headset: The First Android XR Device with Gemini AI at its Core

SEOUL – Samsung Electronics today officially unveiled the Galaxy XR headset, introducing a new line of AI-native devices built to deliver deeply immersive experiences. As the debut product on the new Android XR platform, co-developed by Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm Technologies, the Galaxy XR aims to usher in the next era of discovery, play, and work.

“With Galaxy XR, Samsung is introducing a brand-new ecosystem of mobile devices,” said Won-Joon Choi, COO of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience Business. “Built on Android XR, Galaxy XR expands the vision for mobile AI into a new frontier of immersive and meaningful possibilities, allowing XR to move from concept to everyday reality.”

Google’s President of Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, noted that Android XR is the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era. This partnership is set to “unlock entirely new ways to explore, connect and create,” building an open, unified platform for the future of computing.

Multimodal AI and the Gemini Advantage

The Galaxy XR is designed around multimodal AI, fundamentally changing how users interact with technology. It is the first device running the new Android XR platform with Gemini AI integrated at the system level.

This integration allows the headset to function as a “new type of AI companion.” By seeing what users see and hearing what they hear via its cameras and microphones, the Galaxy XR can respond conversationally and intuitively through voice, vision, and gesture, helping users manage complex tasks with natural human-like interaction.

Comfort, Clarity, and Content

Samsung engineered the Galaxy XR with a human-centric design for long-term comfort. Key physical features include:

• An ergonomically balanced frame to minimize facial discomfort.
• A separate battery pack to keep the headset itself compact and lightweight (545g).
• A detachable light shield for deeper immersion.

Inside, the device boasts a 4K Micro-OLED screen with 27 million pixels, offering an immersive viewing experience that feels like a personal theater. It’s powered by the Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 Platform, delivering advanced AI processing and visual clarity.

The Android XR Ecosystem

The collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm aims to build a scalable, open XR ecosystem. Crucially, all apps built on the Android platform will work “out of the box” on the Galaxy XR.

Optimized experiences include:

• Google Maps: Using Gemini as a guide for navigation and personalized suggestions in immersive 3D maps.
• Circle to Search: Allowing users to see the physical world via video pass-through and draw a circle with their hand to instantly search for information about anything in their environment.
• 3D Content Creation: The ability to auto-spatialize existing 2D photos and videos into 3D memories, alongside apps like Adobe’s Project Pulsar for 3D cinematic editing.

The device also features advanced sensors for precise head, hand, and eye movement tracking, alongside a sophisticated six-microphone array.

Availability and Future Roadmap

The Galaxy XR will be available starting October 21 in the USA and October 22 in Korea.

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy XR headset is just the first step in a broader roadmap that includes future innovations like AI glasses. These are being developed in collaboration with pioneering brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to blend cutting-edge technology with high-end fashion.